X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: Knightrider on December 10, 2011, 08:37:38 AM

Title: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Knightrider on December 10, 2011, 08:37:38 AM
New thread here for households having trouble with X10 Automation systems affected by the recent installation of a Smart Meter at the residence.  Please respond to the following post by quoting it and replacing the words "USER INPUT" with your pertinent information.  We're trying to keep the data formatted identically, so the moderators may edit some posts for formatting issues.

If you have reported a problem in a previous thread, please fill out the survey, and include a link to the thread in which you initially reported the problem.  Feel free to include any notation you feel should be included.  After you have filled out the fields, remove the "quote" and "/quote" from the post to remove the purple bands.

We're trying to collect data from the smart meters to see which systems trash the X10 protocol.
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Knightrider on December 10, 2011, 08:43:33 AM
User Name :                                  "USER INPUT"
Location     :                                 "USER INPUT"
Electric Utility:                               "USER INPUT"
Meter Manufacturer/ model number: "USER INPUT"
Switches/Modules affected:               "USER INPUT"
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                       "USER INPUT"
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                      "USER INPUT"
Blocked Commands (Y/N):                "USER INPUT"
Any non-X10 manufactured switches/modules affected? :       "USER INPUT"

Notes: "USER INPUT"

Reference thread:   "USER INPUT"
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Knightrider on December 10, 2011, 08:53:51 AM
User Name :                                  Knightrider
Location     :                                 SW Ohio
Electric Utility:                               Buckeye Power/ South Central Power Company
Meter Manufacturer/ model number: GE cat no. 721X080423 (made in Mexico)
Switches/Modules affected:               none
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                       no
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                      no
Blocked Commands (Y/N):                not really
Any non-X10 systems affected? :       none

Notes: Had a self reading meter for a few years now.  Was a cost cutting measure for our rural electric co-op to eliminate meter readers. Caused some initial problems with the system, but noise reduction/filtering on cell phone chargers corrected this.  Think the problem was caused by the new meter absorbing some of the X10 signal

Reference thread:   none

[/quote]
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Tuicemen on December 10, 2011, 12:35:08 PM
User Name :                                  Tuicemen
Location     :                                 Southen Ontario
Electric Utility:                               Ontario Hydro
Meter Manufacturer/ model number:   elster
Switches/Modules affected:              none
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                        no
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                      no
Blocked Commands (Y/N):                 none noticed
Any non-X10 systems affected? :       none

Notes: none

Reference thread:   none

Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: William8 on December 10, 2011, 01:16:44 PM

User Name :                                  William8
Location     :                                 Northern Michigan
Electric Utility:                               Cherryland Electric Coop
Meter Manufacturer/ model number: Itron / Centron C1S
Switches/Modules affected:               none
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                       no
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                      no
Blocked Commands (Y/N):                none
Any non-X10 manufactured switches/modules affected? :       none

Notes: Installed in May '07. Hasn't caused any issues with X10.

Reference thread:   none

Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: gga on December 10, 2011, 07:34:07 PM
User Name :                                  gga
Location     :                                 West Chester, Ohio (Cincinnati suburb)
Electric Utility:                               Duke
Meter Manufacturer/ model number: Echelon/model 83021-21AA
Switches/Modules affected:               lamp modules
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                       Yes
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                      No
Blocked Commands (Y/N):                Yes?
Any non-X10 manufactured switches/modules affected? :       bought from multiple sources over the years

Notes: Have had multiple episodes per day for at least two weeks; after posting problem to this site yesterday have had zero problems.

Reference thread:   X10 Community Forum > General Category > General Discussion > lights randomly turn on
 (http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=25766.0)
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: dhouston on December 10, 2011, 08:14:52 PM
User Name :                                  dhouston
Location     :                                 Ft. Mitchell, KY
Electric Utility:                               Duke Energy
Meter Manufacturer/ model number: Echelon
Switches/Modules affected:               none
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                       none
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                      none
Blocked Commands (Y/N):                none
Any non-X10 manufactured switches/modules affected? :       none

Notes: I'm about 3mi from downtown Cincinnati

Reference thread:   none
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Hemingray on December 10, 2011, 08:36:12 PM
User Name :                                  Hemingray
Location     :                                 Evening Shade, AR
Electric Utility:                               North Arkansas Electric Cooperative
Meter Manufacturer/ model number:  ABB/DCSI
Switches/Modules affected:               None
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                       No
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                     No
Blocked Commands (Y/N):               No
Any non-X10 manufactured switches/modules affected? :      None

Notes: Not a smart meter persay, but allows the meter to be read from the main office. No problems X10-wise though.
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: acce06t on December 12, 2011, 06:57:48 PM
User Name :                                 acce06t
Location     :                                 West Chester, OH (greater Cincinnati)
Electric Utility:                               Duke Energy
Meter Manufacturer/ model number: Echelon
Switches/Modules affected:               X10 light modules
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                       YES
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                      no
Blocked Commands (Y/N):               no
Any non-X10 manufactured switches/modules affected? :       no

Notes: Duke Energy has sent two reps out to investigate.  Transferring to engineering department.

Reference thread:  
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: pomonabill221 on December 13, 2011, 04:32:18 PM
User Name :                                  pomonabill221
Location     :                                 Pomona, CA.
Electric Utility:                               SCE
Meter Manufacturer/ model number: Centron Openway by Itron  type:C2SOD 30TA
Switches/Modules affected:               none
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                       none
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                      none
Blocked Commands (Y/N):                none
Any non-X10 manufactured switches/modules affected? :       none

Notes: on meter  FCCID: SK9AMI-4  IC:864G-AMI4

Reference thread:   none
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: JeffreyB on December 19, 2011, 01:18:58 PM
User Name :                                  JeffreyB
Location     :                                 Colerain Township (suburb of Cincinnati)
Electric Utility:                               Duke
Meter Manufacturer/ model number: Echelon
Switches/Modules affected:               X10
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                       Yes
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                      No
Blocked Commands (Y/N):                Yes
Any non-X10 manufactured switches/modules affected? :       No

Notes: System worked perfectly for 17 years.  The day the new meter was installed I started getting random "ON"s.  I have both a PZZ01 noise block and an XPCR active coupler.  Neither correct the problems induced by the smart meter.  I am on the list to have the meter pulled and the data aggregator turned off.  They have to contact my 3 neighbors on the same transformer first.  The Duke engineer told me thet the problem was NOT with the smart meters.  They have actually removed some of them and the X10 problems persisted.  He said the PLC was coming from the data aggregator (communications node) out at the transformer.  That's what talks to the meters and then relays via cell back to Duke.  Removing the meter alone does not fix the problem.  They have to turn the aggregator off too...

Reference thread:  
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: pomonabill221 on December 19, 2011, 01:55:17 PM
There seems to be a pattern developing here!  -:)
We need as many people to submit their situations!
Good job! >! #:) :)+
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Noam on December 19, 2011, 02:04:18 PM
... The Duke engineer told me thet the problem was NOT with the smart meters.  They have actually removed some of them and the X10 problems persisted.  He said the PLC was coming from the data aggregator out out the transformer.  That's what talks to the meters and then relays via cell back to Duke.  Removing the meter alone does not fix the problem.  They have to turn the aggregator off too...
I wonder if turning off the aggregator alone (without replacing the meters) would have any effect on the problem.
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: cwilk2001 on January 01, 2012, 12:06:13 AM
User Name :                                  cwilk2001
Location     :                                 West Chester, OH
Electric Utility:                               Duke Energy
Meter Manufacturer/ model number:  Echelon Model 83021-21AA  Type E2L3
Switches/Modules affected:               X10
Random "ONs" (Y/N):                      Yes
Random "OFFs" (Y/N):                     Yes
Blocked Commands (Y/N):                Yes
Any non-X10 manufactured switches/modules affected? :       No

Notes:  Had fairly reliable system that includes RF and powerline.  All X-10 modules except the Homepro Cr234 repeater installed at the breaker panel.  Now I get random on/off on all lamp modules and switches.  I disconnected the repeater and still have the issue.  When repeater is on  I show a lot of error signals coming through on the indicators.  When I connect with ActiveHome and look at the screen to show "other Computers" and which codes are being used I get everything on the house code I'm using showing a signal having been sent.  I just saw this thread so haven't known that the new meter is likely my issue but my problems started exactly when the meter was installed.

I have a dust collector in my basement shop that's on house code A and is the only thing on that code and it hasn't seemed affected . It's on an appliance module feeding a contactor. Everthing on Code M is affected.  I haven't tried moving everything to a new code yet or monitoring longer using ActiveHome to see if all codes are affected.
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: mike on January 01, 2012, 07:14:12 AM
certainly beginning to look like it revolves around the echelon brand smart meter.

OT but congrats to Tuicemen for posting his 5,000th post in this thread!
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Knightrider on January 01, 2012, 08:39:28 AM
It also appears that Duke Energy in the Cincy region is the main culprit.
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: JeffreyB on January 07, 2012, 09:59:06 AM
Duke has turned off my Ambient node.  All false "ONs" have stopped, and no more blocked commands.  Not sure how long they can keep me off the grid, so we still need a long term fix...

Jeff
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: HA Dave on January 07, 2012, 11:59:07 AM
It also appears that Duke Energy in the Cincy region is the main culprit.

You really jumped right on this Knightrider. Finding the cause of the problem, is the first step to fixing anything. +1 from me.
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Noam on January 07, 2012, 07:23:33 PM
Duke has turned off my Ambient node.  All false "ONs" have stopped, and no more blocked commands.  Not sure how long they can keep me off the grid, so we still need a long term fix...

Jeff

If THIER equipment is interfering with yours, then you have a right to complain until they fix it. Even if we (and by that I mean mostly Jeff Volp) find a working solution, it shouldn't be your responsibility (as the paying customer of the utility) to pay for it, it should be the utility company's.
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Dan Lawrence on January 08, 2012, 12:04:24 AM
Duke has turned off my Ambient node.  All false "ONs" have stopped, and no more blocked commands.  Not sure how long they can keep me off the grid, so we still need a long term fix...

Jeff

If THIER equipment is interfering with yours, then you have a right to complain until they fix it. Even if we (and by that I mean mostly Jeff Volp) find a working solution, it shouldn't be your responsibility (as the paying customer of the utility) to pay for it, it should be the utility company's.

Betcha a plugged nickel the utility will refuse to pay for it since they control the power. :-(
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Knightrider on January 21, 2012, 07:20:59 PM
It also appears that Duke Energy in the Cincy region is the main culprit.

You really jumped right on this Knightrider. Finding the cause of the problem, is the first step to fixing anything. +1 from me.

Don't thank me.  I'm just the moderator of this thread.  This whole thing is the brain-child of Dave Houston.
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: eknelson on January 24, 2012, 05:14:08 PM
Smart meters will kill X-10..scrapped all X-10 looking at skylink
Title: Re: [INPUT REQUESTED] Smart Meter Survey
Post by: Dan Lawrence on January 24, 2012, 09:22:29 PM
Smart meters will kill X-10..scrapped all X-10 looking at skylink

Read everything on the subject here and you will find there are ways for X10 users to have it work with a Smart Meter.